Amino acids, the word may strike you with something related to muscles. But do amino acids burn belly fat?
You will be shocked to know this, but yes! They burn not just the belly but all the stubborn chunks of fat.
But hold on, not all amino acids effectively trim down your love handles and help you get the perfectly sculpted curves.
There are the chosen ones! The ones with the active results for rats in studies, and even in humans.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s quickly find out do amino acids burn belly fat and the hidden facts about fat burners.
Which Amino Acids Help Weight Loss?
Amino acids are compounds that come together to form proteins to regulate multiple metabolic processes.
Altogether, there are 20 types of amino acids, grouped into the essential amino acids, and the non-essential amino acids.
However, only three amino acids out of these groups are known for their effects on amplifying weight loss results.
The best amino acids for weight loss are:
L-Arginine
L-arginine is one of the significant amino acids that burn belly fat and helps the body build protein and support muscle protein synthesis. Furthermore, it boosts the metabolism of the body and improves muscle mass formation t
A study was conducted to study the effects of L-Arginine among obese mice. For this, the mice were divided into two groups, one fed on a high-fat diet, and the other on a low-fat diet for 15 weeks.
After 15 weeks, the mice were kept on L-arginine supplementation for 12 weeks, and observations were made.
It was seen that mice on L-Arginine had lesser white fat formation, and more muscles were built.
While the study confirms that L-Arginine can possibly burn fat, the question is how?
How Does L-Arginine Burn Fat?
As per the study, certain theories were brought into consideration for the pathway of L-arginine’s effect on obesity:
- It increases the nitric oxide levels in the blood – the nitric oxide causes vasodilation and improves nutrient distribution raising the metabolism.
- Increases the skeletal muscle growth – by using the BCAAs available in the body for protein synthesis, as the serum levels of the BCAA were low in the study.
- Improves insulin sensitivity – causing uptake of glucose from the blood, and increasing the fat metabolism for rapid calorie burn
Hence, L-arginine helps with weight loss, by burning fat and increasing muscle growth.
That is not a tough nut to crack if you jot down the following ways of using L-Arginine for weight loss.
How to Use L-Arginine for Weight Loss?
Amino acids can be used in two ways, either the food sources or supplements.
Some of the best sources of L-Arginine are poultry sources, like eggs and chicken, dairy products including milk and cheese, and plant sources like legumes and nuts.
But ideally, supplements are the best for using L-arginine for weight loss, as they have the right dosage and guidance for bringing the amino acid’s best benefits.
Combining an L-arginine supplement also helps in trimming down body fat naturally.
PhenQ PM is one of the weight loss pills with L-arginine one of its ingredients to lose fat effectively. It’s a nighttime fat burner that also improves a better sleep cycle.
With that being said, let’s move on to the next amino acid on the list.
L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is the energy producer for weight loss, as it transfers all of the fatty acids into the mitochondria to churn out energy.
9 studies were compared and analyzed to study the effects of L-carnitine on body mass index and weight loss.
These studies showed that with L-carnitine supplementation, people lost as much as 2.9 pounds or 1.3 kilograms of weight.
Some studies also showed that the amino acid helped reduce the BMI and weight among women suffering from PCOS.
With such results, people take L-Carnitine for weight loss and has a unique way of carving your dreams into reality.
A quick peek into the mechanism would clear out all your doubts about the supplement.
How Does L-Carnitine Work?
L-carnitine mainly increases the energy levels in the body by converting fats into energy through mitochondria.
However, some studies have also shown that the amino acids can be workout boosters, as they increase your performance with:
- Faster recovery post workouts reducing muscle fatigue
- More oxygen consumption by muscles, causing improved contractions’
- Boosting your stamina as the oxygen is transported well to the tissues
- Intensified performance due to increased energy
But the only way to extract the most out of L-carnitine is to focus on how you are adding the amino acid to your routine. Also, it’s one of the amino acids that do burn belly fat.
Adding L-Carnitine to Workout Routine
The best sources of L-carnitine are undoubtedly animal sources like beef, pork, and chicken.
Some dairy products can hold a good amount of L-carnitine too, but for the right dosage for weight loss, don’t settle for anything below a supplement.
Since our body can produce some amounts of L-carnitine, you won’t need much of the supplementation and all.
It would be better to combine fat-burning with an optimum dosage of L-carnitine for better outcomes.
PhenQ is one such supplement you can go with. It is a daytime fat burner that has enough trusted users who shared how effectively it helps in burning fat.
Comparing PhenQ vs PhenQ PM, both alternatively
But does the next amino acid promise the same “little supplementation” rule? Let’s find out as we finally reveal the BCAA weight loss strategy.
BCAA
Branches of amino acids combine isoleucine, leucine, and valine, and are popular ingredients for fat cutters.
Many prominent studies show that if you follow a strict diet with a solid workout routine, nothing can stop BCAA from getting you back in figure.
The International Journal of Sports Medicine stated that BCAA with a good diet has caused a good amount of weight loss among elite performers.
So, is it that good? Obviously, their action plan or the biological role in the body is directly involved with weight loss.
How Do BCAAs Cause Weight Loss?
There are several ways that the branched-chain amino acids can come into use when planning weight loss:
- They produce the building blocks for muscles, and the more muscles you build, the lesser fat percentage you have.
- Boost energy for extended performance at the workouts as they can be the direct source of energy, preserving glycogen in muscles.
- BCAA can stimulate the release of appetite-controlling hormones, suggesting to your brain that you are already full, and hence controlling appetite.
Hence, taking BCAAs, through the following methods can be your savior during the tough weight loss journey.
How to Take BCAAs?
You can extract a healthy amount of BCAA from many animal and plant sources. Some of the best dietary sources are meat, fish, dairy products, black beans, and almonds.
For people who are too lazy to calculate the foods for their dosage, we suggest you opt for supplements like BCAAs powder and capsules.
However, before taking any of the above amino acids, make sure to read the following section where we discuss the risks and considerations!
Side Effects of Amino Acid Supplementation
Although the amino acids are considered safe and free from major side effects, the dosage and special attention to timing are a must.
Differences in both of these factors can cause side effects like:
- Gastrointestinal irritation – due to overdosing or taking the amino acids on an empty stomach
- High blood pressure – on overdosing on certain amino acids that increase nitric oxide, like L-arginine.
- Renal impairment – certain amino acids might be difficult to digest and pass through the kidney causing injury to the kidney.
Hence, taking supplements of natural composition and optimally dosed ingredients is a good way to avoid any complications.
While the dosage for the amino acids varies according to age, muscle composition, and weight, when to take amino acids for weight loss, remains the same for all.
Ideally, the best time to take your amino acids is before working with a healthy amount of water.
Conclusion
Amino acids do burn belly fat and are the new-age fat burners, with many companies bringing them into the core formulas.
Although studies prove that some of the amino acids are practically helpful in weight loss, there have been a few studies with no response.
But when we observe the mechanisms, we see that the amino acids have enough power to bring in a change. Talking about the supplements people also ask queries like “Can you take PhenQ and PhenQ PM together, so yes you definitely can.
However, the correct way of usage matters, and hence we suggest our readers consult your healthcare professionals before taking any of these.